February 2002
The safety of blood products is important for all people, especially
those with hemophilia. The introduction of clotting factor
concentrates in the 1970s greatly improved the treatment for
hemophilia patients. Unfortunately, these products also introduced a
new risk—the transmission of infectious diseases. While the risk of
hepatitis from these products was recognized early on, the large
number of persons with hemophilia who became infected with human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the early 1980s brought new questions
to the safety of the blood supply. Prevention measures, including
more sensitive donor screening methods, viral inactivation (viral
killing) techniques, and the development of genetically engineered
(recombinant) factor, were rapidly introduced to avoid future
contamination. The use of these strategies has virtually eliminated
the spread of viral diseases, including HIV and hepatitis, through
the use of blood products.
Today, clotting factor concentrates are
considered safe from contamination with known viruses. However,
continued monitoring of blood products provides an additional measure
to ensure their safety. With this in mind, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), in cooperation with federally funded
hemophilia treatment centers (HTCs), established the Universal Data
Collection Project (UDC). Persons with bleeding disorders are
eligible to enroll in UDC at their participating HTC. As part of the
program, clinical data and a blood sample are collected from
participants each year during their annual clinic visit. A portion of
the blood sample is tested for viral hepatitis (hepatitis A virus [HAV],
hepatitis B virus [HBV], hepatitis C virus [HCV]) and HIV, and the
remainder is stored for possible use in future blood safety
investigations.
Since the program began in May 1998, nearly 9,500
persons from 135 HTCs have been enrolled in UDC. As part of the
program, each participant's annual test results are monitored for new
infections with hepatitis or HIV. To date, no new cases of HAV, HBV,
HCV, or HIV infection have been found among UDC participants.
Additionally, the monitoring has revealed that more than 90 percent
of UDC participants under the age of 20 have been vaccinated against
HBV. Since UDC began, 191 participants who were not immune to either
HAV or HBV when first enrolled have been vaccinated.
The nation's blood supply is safer now than ever
before. However, monitoring is important to make sure that it remains
safe and to detect the appearance of any new infectious agent that
may pose a threat to its safety. Members of the bleeding community
can help protect themselves in two important ways:
1. GET VACCINATED. Vaccination is a
safe and effective way of protecting oneself against infection from
HAV and HBV. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
recommends HBV vaccination for all children and HAV vaccination for
persons greater than 2 years of age who have hemophilia or other
bleeding disorders. No vaccine is currently available against HCV.
2.
PARTICIPATE IN UDC. Early identification of potential bloodborne
diseases in the blood supply can help prevent further spread to
others. Blood samples collected as part of the UDC program are stored
in a national serum bank, and if a new disease is discovered, these
stored blood samples can be tested to identify any potential threats
to the safety of the blood supply.
For more information on the
Universal Data Collection Project, contact your local HTC.
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Date: November 21, 2005
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities